How An Atlanta Brain Injury Attorney Can Help You Identify Brain Injury

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How An Atlanta Brain Injury Attorney Can Help You Identify Brain Injury

By
Goldstein & Hayes, P.C.
|April 18, 2014

Every year, 2.5 million people
suffer from traumatic brain injury, according to the
Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. Brain injuries may result from many causes, including car accidents,
falls, toxic substances, improper medications, and mishandled medical
procedures. In many instances brain injuries may be difficult to detect,
particularly so-called “mild” injuries. As such, brain injuries
are often missed or misdiagnosed by medical professionals. A failure to
diagnose a brain injury–even one that is considered mild–can
pose a serious risk of harm.

Recognizing Brain Injury

Because the severity and type of brain injury can vary, there exists no
sure-fire way for easily detecting a brain injury in all cases. Some of
the common symptoms of traumatic brain injury include:

difficulty concentrating;

memory loss;

persistent headache;

dizziness;

fatigue;

change in mood;

change in cognitive function (such as difficulty reading or speaking);

blurred vision; and

nausea.

Another symptom may include loss of consciousness, but note that a loss
of consciousness does not occur in all cases, including cases of more
severe brain injury.

Recognizing When a Child May Be Suffering From Brain Injury

For children who suffer from a brain injury, symptoms may be more difficult
to identify than for adults. Parents and other caregivers should look
for the following:

changes in eating, sleeping, or playing patterns;

changes in school performance;

tiredness or listlessness;

changes in mood, including irritability;

loss of interest in favorite activities

loss of newly acquired skills (such as toilet training);

vomiting; and

trouble balancing or unsteady walking.

In all cases of brain injury–both in children and in adults–it
is important to note that symptoms may appear over time. A delay between
the cause of a brain injury and the manifestation of symptoms is not uncommon.
For example, a person may appear to be fine immediately after an accident
but may feel ill days or even weeks later.

Brain Injury Caused by the Negligence of Another

Although some brain injuries may be the cause of our own actions, many
suffer brain injuries due to the negligent actions of others. For example,
a common cause of brain injuries includes the negligence of medical professionals.
While under the care of medical professionals people may suffer brain
injury due to:

over-medication,

improper medication,

failure to diagnose a brain tumor,

mishandled brain surgery, and

improper use of anesthesia.

Another type of brain injury at the hands of medical professionals includes
birth injury. For example, a doctor’s negligence may cause a child
to suffer from a lack of oxygen during childbirth. When oxygen is cut
off during delivery the child may suffer from significant injury, such as
cerebral palsy. Such an injury may affect the child for life.

Get the Help of an Experienced Attorney

If you or your child has suffered harm from a brain injury caused by the
negligence of another, you should contact an Atlanta brain injury attorneyimmediately.
An attorney can review the facts of your case and determine whether you
have a viable claim. If so, they can help you seek the compensation you deserve.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.